Trusted Regina REALTOR® James Wruth Shares The Importance of Being A RE/MAX Crown Real Estate Agent

23. Aug 2022 Ashlyn Regina Real Estate, TRUSTED TIPS

James Wruth is one of Regina’s most trusted and top-selling Realtors. A member of RE/MAX Crown Real Estate since 2006, James works with families, individuals, investors, and developers in the purchase and sale of residential properties. Since 2006, James has been a consistent Top Producing Realtor, and he has been awarded numerous prestigious distinctions including Re/Max 100% Club distinction, Platinum Sales Award, and Remax Hall of Fame induction. James Wruth is a Trusted Regina Real Estate expert.

James Wruth Shares The Importance Of Being A RE/MAX Crown Real Estate Agent In Regina

I believe that relationships are more important than transactions. I started a career in real estate in 2006, and since that time I have built a Regina real estate business around that philosophy. My goal is a personalized one-on-one service to fully understand you, your real estate goals, and to be 100% accountable to you. In my latest blog post, I share the advantages of working with a REMAX Crown Real Estate Agent in Regina.

Why I am Proud to be your RE/MAX Crown Real Estate Agent in Regina

Buying or selling a home is likely the largest and most important transaction you’ll ever make. That’s why so many people trust RE/MAX: the most widely recognized real estate brand in the world. For more than 20 years, RE/MAX has been the leading real estate organization in Canada. By providing the best training, administrative and marketing support, brokers and agents are free to focus on what they do best: SELL real estate.

As a RE/MAX Crown Real Estate Agent, I am focused on providing you with the best results and service in the industry. I listen carefully to understand your real estate goals and work hard to create solutions that make sense for you. Whether you are new to the market or an experienced investor, I have the expertise, proven track record, and resources to help you achieve your real estate goals. A common mantra in real estate is “location, location, location.” REMAX agents have extensive knowledge of the Regina area and can help find the right home for you or the right buyer for your home.

As a RE/MAX agent, I am supplied with exclusive tools and training to ensure I have the skills they need to effectively guide you through the real estate process. In fact, Canadian RE/MAX agents averaged twice as many transactions as its competitors. (based on 2015 closed transactions source: CREA, RE/MAX) and have more specialized designations than any others, making them Canada’s most productive agents.

Tech Savvy

RE/MAX has always been a leader in the real estate industry, adopting the latest technology and creating innovative marketing programs. RE/MAX was the first brand to expand its reach to the global market through a revolutionary global listing site. With listings from more than 80 countries, displayed in over 40 languages, RE/MAX agents have the opportunity to search and post listings internationally, making international transactions easier than ever.

Community

At the heart of RE/MAX is a deep commitment to the communities we operate in. This was another big reason why I was drawn to the brand as a new agent back in 2006. RE/MAX Crown Real Estate Agents succeed with dedication, experience and community involvement. As a team, we have raised thousands of dollars through charity work, and we channel those funds into local and regional children’s medical facilities to improve the quality of life in our local communities!

All RE/MAX Agents display the Miracle Home sign on property listings. As we are committed to helping hospitalized children across our province and have pledged a portion of their income from the sale of that home to the Jim Pattison Children's Hospital Foundation.

Your home is one of the biggest investments of your life. When you’re ready to buy or sell, choose wisely—choose me, James Wruth REMAX Crown Regina Real Estate Agent.

If you are looking for a Regina Realtor who works tirelessly on your behalf and always offers honest and candid advice, James will be an expert at your side.

Sell Your Home For The Best Possible Price, With The Least Amount Of Time and Stress!

James Wruth Is A Trusted Regina Estate Agent

Trusted Regina REALTOR® James Wruth Explains Selling A Deceased Family Member's Home

7. Jun 2022 Ashlyn Regina Real Estate, TRUSTED TIPS

James Wruth is one of Regina’s most trusted and top-selling Realtors. A member of Remax Crown Real Estate since 2006, James works with families, individuals, investors, and developers in the purchase and sale of residential properties. Since 2006, James has been a consistent Top Producing Realtor, and he has been awarded numerous prestigious distinctions including Re/Max 100% Club distinction, Platinum Sales Award, and Remax Hall of Fame induction. James Wruth is a Trusted Regina Real Estate expert.

James Wruth Explains The Process When Selling The Home Of A Deceased Family Member

I believe that relationships are more important than transactions. I started a career in real estate in 2006, and since that time I have built a Regina real estate business around that philosophy. My goal is a personalized one-on-one service to fully understand you, your real estate goals, and to be 100% accountable to you. In my latest blog post, I explain the process of selling the home of a family member who has passed.

What Is The Process Involved When Selling The Home Of A Deceased Family Member?

Unfortunately, I am all too aware that the death of a relative is always a hard time for the family left behind. Not only do you have to navigate the emotional turmoil that is present when someone you love passes, but you may also have to deal with the inevitable real-world details – like liquidating assets and maybe even selling that person's home.

1. The Importance Of An Up To Date Will

If you think their properties will automatically pass to their descendants when they die, you could be in for an unpleasant surprise. If a homeowner dies without a will, or with a will that somehow fails to specify who the deceased’s property is meant for, what happens to the home becomes a provincial decision.

Each province has its own formula for distributing the deceased’s assets that takes priority over the dead person’s wishes.

When a person dies intestate, typically the family will act as administrator of the estate. Section 11 of The Administration of Estates Act lists the persons entitled to apply for Letters of Administration:

spouse; children & grandchildren;
parents;
siblings; nephews and nieces;
next of kin of equal degree of consanguinity;
creditors; and the official administrator.

Letters of Administration may not be required to deal with assets that are not part of the estate (Part II Assets) such as property jointly owned with the deceased at the date of death, assets with a named beneficiary or assets outside Saskatchewan. Letters of Administration will be required if the estate assets include real estate in order to conduct any land transactions with Information Service Corporation.

Selling a home after a relative dies is what’s known as an “estate sale.”

The term “estate sale” can often be interpreted in different ways. For instance, if you are not a Realtor, you might be thinking that an estate sale is an auction where furniture and other possessions are liquidated. Most real estate agents, on the other hand, think of an estate sale as selling a property for one of the heirs.

2. Transference of real estate after death.

So what happens when the home is going to be sold?

The first thing that needs to be done is to ensure the executor has been given authority to liquidate the real estate. There should be specific instructions in the will about selling the property.

First, look to see if the executor under the will was given power or authority over the real estate. If they were not given authority over the real estate, then the beneficiaries hold the authority and can sell the real estate without the executor’s consent.

Important note:

If you are going to be selling an estate where there are more debts than assets, this is what’s called being insolvent. If this is your situation it is important NOT to pay any debts you don’t have to— If you pay some low-priority creditors, you could find you are personally liable for the amount you shouldn’t have paid out. For example, don’t pay the landscaper or the telephone bill. These should be paid by the executor once approved.

3. What Happens If there Is a Mortgage Outstanding?

A majority of Canadian homeowners don’t know what happens to their mortgages when they die. Only 28 per cent of respondents to a 2021 survey realize that their mortgage needs to be paid by the beneficiary who receives their properties. It does not disappear, unfortunately, although that’s exactly what 12 per cent of survey respondents think happens to a mortgage when a borrower dies.

Property owners, particularly investors, must also keep in mind the tax bills awaiting their surviving family members. The CRA treats a dead individual’s assets as if they were all sold on the day prior to his death, meaning capital gains taxes on non-primary residents need to be paid – even if the home is left to a beneficiary. Joint ownership of a property with a spouse can provide a clean and legal workaround; otherwise, those left behind will need to foot the bill.

4. Collect all the necessary documents related to the home.

One of the least enjoyable, but most necessary, things that those left behind need to do is collect all required financial documents. Financial documents are essential for the distribution of the estate, including the home. Without all the necessary documents things become much more complicated.

You may have to search for a while to find everything you need. Often all documents won’t be in the same place. Sometimes people will stash them in hidden places. It is worth the time to search everywhere, including crawl spaces, the attic, and the garage, go through all the boxes and files, and even look under the mattress and drawers.

The documents you will want to gather may include:

Will – As explained - If there is a will, it will significantly simplify the distribution of the estate.
Receipts from bills – You will need to freeze your relative’s credit and contact all creditors, including the three major credit reporting agencies.
Investment documents – Your relative may have had stocks and/or bonds.
Insurance documents – There may be a policy from an employer, or one purchased privately.
Homeowner’s policy – Keep homeowner’s insurance up to date and increase coverage if necessary.
Bank account documentation – You want accurate information on all of your relative’s bank accounts.
Personal documents – If your relative had any personal documents, like journals, poetry, etc., you might like to have them at a later date for sentimental reasons.

Once you have gathered all the documents you know, you will need, shred everything else that has personal information on it. It is a common thing for identity thieves to use the social security numbers of the deceased. By eliminating all documents with the number on them, you make identity theft more difficult.

4. Change The Locks and Mail Delivery

When selling a home as an estate sale, it is essential you have complete control of the property. This includes changing the mail, so you receive it in a timely fashion, along with enhancing the home’s security. Keep in mind there are going to be folks who know about the death that took place and the fact the home may be vacant.

You will be surprised how many keys have been given out on a property over the years. Whether it is friends, relatives, the babysitter or various contractors who have done work. It is better to be safe than sorry.

5. Hire a Regina Realtor To Help You Get the Home Ready For Market

After you have processed all the personal possessions of your relative, you will be ready for the actual sale. At this point, you will go through much the same steps as any other home seller – although some minor differences may apply.

I have found that often when selling a home that was owned by an older relative, or a house that has been occupied for decades, there is extra work involved in prepping for sale. This can be one of the most challenging parts of selling a deceased parent's home. The house may be quite dated, including old wallpaper, decorations, carpet, paint, etc. It may also have damage that has gone unaddressed for a long time.

An experienced and reputable real estate agent will provide the best advice on what needs to be changed or repaired before you put the home on the market. If you want to get the best possible price, you may need to make some changes. The most common I see include:

Getting rid of old furniture/ window coverings
Removing wallpaper
Changing dated flooring and/or refinishing hardwood floors
Applying a fresh coat of paint
Eliminating all signs of pet ownership, like stains and other damage
Installing new fixtures and updating lighting

In addition to any changes you make to the home, you are going to want to clean it thoroughly. There is nothing more critical to the sale of a home than a proper cleaning. I may also suggest professionally staging the property if there is not enough appropriate furniture/belongings left after the cleanup.

Once the home is prepared for buyers, then we can go ahead and list it. As long as you have made the home desirable based on the current Regina and Rea Real estate market, you should be able to sell it for a fair price.

A misunderstanding of what happens to a person’s property once they’ve died can cause extreme distress, both financial and emotional, for her surviving family members. So the best advice I can give is to have your will and paperwork in order as soon as you become a homeowner. In addition, you review your will on a regular basis to ensure it reflects your wishes.

Have Questions about selling a home of a deceased family member? Contact James today!

If you are looking for a Regina Realtor who works tirelessly on your behalf and always offers honest and candid advice, James will be an expert at your side.

Sell Your Home For The Best Possible Price, With The Least Amount Of Time and Stress!

James Wruth Is A Trusted Regina Estate Agent

Trusted Regina Realtor and Regina Real Estate Expert shares a Tip on Mistakes to Avoid When Buying a Home

11. Feb 2013 trusted Regina Real Estate, TRUSTED TIPS

In today's competitive real estate market, timing is everything. Many good homes are sold before they are ever advertised. Whether you are buying or selling a home, hire a Trusted Realtor , who wants to earn your business, and works hard to get you results!

Regina Real Estate Tip

8 Mistakes to Avoid When Buying a Home:

You’ve been saving for awhile, weighing your options, looking around casually. Now you’ve finally decided to do it—you’re ready to buy a house. The process of buying a new home can be incredibly exciting, yet stressful, all at once. Where do you start?

It is essential you do your homework before you begin. Learn from the experiences of others, do some research. Of course, with so many details involved, slip-ups are inevitable. But be careful: learning from your mistakes may prove costly. Use the following list of pitfalls as a guide to help you avoid the most common mistakes.

1. Searching for houses without getting pre-approved by a lender:

Do not mistake pre-approval by a lender with pre-qualification. Pre-qualification, the first step toward being pre-approved, will point you in the right direction, giving you an idea of the price range of houses you can comfortably afford. Pre-approval, however, means you become a cash buyer, making negotiations with the seller much easier.

2. Allowing “first impressions” to overly influence your decision:

The first impression of a home has been cited as the single most influential factor guiding many purchasers’ choice to buy. Make a conscious decision beforehand to examine a home as objectively as you can. Don’t let the current owners’ style or lifestyle sway your judgment. Beneath the bad décor or messy rooms, these homes may actually suit your needs and offer you a structurally sound base with which to work. Likewise, don’t jump at a home simply because the walls are painted your favourite colour! Make sure you thoroughly the investigate the structure beneath the paint before you come to any serious decisions.

3. Failing to have the home inspected before you buy:

Buying a home is a major financial decision that is often made after having spent very little time on the property itself. A home inspection performed by a competent company will help you enter the negotiation process with eyes wide open, offering you added reassurance that the choice you’re making is a sound one, or alerting you to underlying problems that could cost you significant money in both the short and long-run. Your Realtor can suggest reputable home inspection companies for you to consider and will ensure the appropriate clause is entered into your contract.

4. Not knowing and understanding your rights and obligations as listed in the Offer to Purchase:

Make it a priority to know your rights and obligations inside and out. A lack of understanding about your obligations may, at the very least, cause friction between yourself and the people with whom you are about to enter the contract. Wrong assumptions, poorly written/ incomprehensible/ missing clauses, or a lack of awareness of how the clauses apply to the purchase, could also contribute to increased costs. These problems may even lead to a void contract. So, take the time to go through the contract with a fine-tooth comb, making use of the resources and knowledge offered by your Realtor and lawyer. With their assistance, ensure you thoroughly understand every component of the contract, and are able to fulfill your contractual obligations.

5. Making an offer based on the asking price, not the market value:

Ask your Realtor for a current Comparative Market Analysis. This will provide you with the information necessary to gauge the market value of a home, and will help you avoid over-paying. What have other similar homes sold for in the area and how long were they on the market? What is the difference between their asking and selling prices? Is the home you’re looking at under-priced, over-priced, or fair value? The seller receives a Comparative Market Analysis before deciding upon an asking price, so make sure you have all the same information at your fingertips.

6. Failing to familiarize yourself with the neighbourhood before buying: Check out the neighbourhood you’re considering, and ask around. What amenities does the area have to offer? Are there schools, churches, parks, or grocery stores within reach? Consider visiting schools in the area if you have children. How will you be affected by a new commute to work? Are there infrastructure projects in development? All of these factors will influence the way you experience your new home, so ensure you’re well-acquainted with the surrounding area before purchasing.

7. Not looking for home insurance until you are about to move:

If you wait until the last minute, you’ll be rushed to find an insurance policy that’s the ideal fit for you. Make sure you give yourself enough time to shop around in order to get the best deal.

8. Not recognizing different styles and strategies of negotiation:

Many buyers think that the way to negotiate their way to a fair price is by offering low. However, in reality this strategy may actually result in the seller becoming more inflexible, polarizing negotiations. Employ the knowledge and skills of an experienced realtor. She will know what strategies of negotiation will prove most effective for your particular situation.

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Trusted Regina REALTOR® James Wruth Shares The Importance of Being A RE/MAX Crown Real Estate Agent

James Wruth Shares The Importance Of Being A RE/MAX Crown Real Estate Agent In Regina